Poland increases the cost of obtaining work permits: employment of Ukrainians becomes more expensive

In Poland, from December 1, 2025, new, significantly increased administrative fees for obtaining work permits for foreigners, among whom a significant share are citizens of Ukraine, will come into effect. The relevant changes have been published on the country's government website and will become mandatory for all employers who hire workers from abroad.

According to the updated tariffs, businesses will have to pay significantly more for submitting documents. Thus, a work permit for a period of up to three months will now cost 200 PLN (approximately $55). If we are talking about work for a period of more than three months, the fee will be 400 PLN (approximately $109). A significant increase in prices has also affected posted foreign workers: the processing of such a permit increases to 800 PLN (approximately $218.5). A separate seasonal work permit will now cost PLN 100 ($27).

Despite the introduction of new rates, the Polish authorities clarify that the changes will not affect cases filed before December 1, 2025. All procedures that have already been opened and have not yet been completed will continue according to the old rules and tariffs.

Additional changes concern the processing of declarations on the assignment of work to a foreigner. The resolution of the Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy, adopted on November 20, increases the fee for such a declaration fourfold - from PLN 100 to PLN 400. This means that even the simplest form of attracting a foreign worker will now become more expensive for employers.

Poland is also modernizing the system of legalization of stay. In early November, the country's Senate supported legislative changes that will transfer the process of submitting applications for a residence permit to a fully electronic format. It is expected that in 2026, Ukrainians with temporary protection status (PESEL UKR) will be able to apply for a three-year residence permit - the so-called CUKR card.

According to Eurostat, as of the end of September 2025, about 1 million Ukrainian refugees were living in Poland. This is 23.5% of all citizens who have received temporary protection in the European Union, which makes Ukrainians the largest group of such recipients in the country. Thus, the new rules will directly affect a significant part of both employees and employers.